HL Deb 16 October 1972 vol 335 cc1665-6WA
THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What results have been obtained from research at Warren Springs Laboratory into the recovery of useful materials from metal scrap and domestic refuse referred to in a written answer on July 10, 1969.

LORD DRUMALBYN

As a result of this work, equipments for the removal of non-metallics such as rubber and plastics from mixtures with metal scrap and for separating light metals from heavier metals are now commercially available. In conjunction with a local authority and an industrial company, one of these equipments has been applied to the recovery of non-ferrous scrap from residues of incinerated domestic refuse. A report on this will be published later this year. Studies have been made of chemical methods of recovering individual metals from complex alloy scrap sludges and effluent liquors, and a number of these processes are now in industrial use.

House adjourned at twelve minutes past nine o'clock.